Michigan parents abandon 13-year-old under Nebraska safe haven law

from: detnews.com

Francis X. Donnelly
The Detroit News

A Michigan teen today became the second person from outside Nebraska abandoned in the state under Nebraska's safe-haven law.

A parent of the 13-year-old Michigan boy flew to Omaha, Neb., to leave the child at a city hospital early this morning, a Nebraska official said.

A unique Nebraska law that went into effect July 18 allows children as old as 18 to be abandoned at state-licensed hospitals without fear of prosecution.

It wasn't known why the Michigan boy was left at the hospital. He was placed in an emergency shelter.

Last week, a 14-year-old girl from Iowa was left at an Omaha hospital by her grandparents. She has since been returned to the family.

Besides the two nonresidents, 16 children from Nebraska between the ages of 1 and 17 have been left at hospitals under the law. Several parents or guardians cited uncontrollable behavior as the reason for the abandonment.

You can reach Francis X. Donnelly at (313) 223-4186 or fdonnelly@detnews.com.